Official Spec Thread: Heart and Hustle Magic 2.0

[drsd]

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Well, Isaac is clearly nowhere near court ready.


..

[j-ragg]

Drafting two rail thin big men back-to-back when neither can ever be a top 3 scoring option on a good team was monumentally stupid and delayed our rebuild further than it was already doomed to be. The surprising part was when the under developed bigs were injury prone.

If they were hired in 2020 and last year was their first handful of moves, I’d be their #1 fan. The trades of our little 3 were great. Jalen and Franz should end up a great draft.

It just sucks we had to evaluate for 4 years prior to see what they could do with a rebuild I guess. When they got hired in 2017 a lot of us thought maybe that was gonna start a (needed) rebuild.

I get the other side of the coin. Two playoff appearances and guys raised their value a bit. Not worth the 4 years of nothing imo.

[Optimus_Steel]

Drafting two rail thin big men back-to-back when neither can ever be a top 3 scoring option on a good team was monumentally stupid and delayed our rebuild further than it was already doomed to be. The surprising part was when the under developed bigs were injury prone.

If they were hired in 2020 and last year was their first handful of moves, I’d be their #1 fan. The trades of our little 3 were great. Jalen and Franz should end up a great draft.

It just sucks we had to evaluate for 4 years prior to see what they could do with a rebuild I guess. When they got hired in 2017 a lot of us thought maybe that was gonna start a (needed) rebuild.

I get the other side of the coin. Two playoff appearances and guys raised their value a bit. Not worth the 4 years of nothing imo.

The Magic drafted two big men projects back to back, it was stupid when it happened as it is now.

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[SOUL]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

[Xatticus]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

I listened to a Hollinger and Duncan podcast recently where he answered a question specifically about promises. It's relevant because Hennigan was praised for being enamored with Porzingis a year early, but unfortunately had to settle for Hezonja when the Knicks snagged him a pick before. Supposedly, Hennigan did everything possible to lure Porzingis the year before he actually entered the draft. Anyway, Hollinger mentioned that they had the same plan in Memphis, but also mentioned that while they thought they were ahead of the curve, he has come to find out that basically half the league had that plan.

[The Effect]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

[SOUL]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

I'm saying the general consensus was people being fine with the pick because of Vuc stagnating and us wanting a defensive presence at center. Obviously not everybody was down with the pick, but it wasn't like when people were freaking out at Gordon over Exum or even at the Wagner pick.

[Xatticus]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

Well... I was a Bridges guy. I do remember some people really liking SGA though.

I will say this though... I'd rather have Bamba right now than MPJ.

[The Effect]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

I'm saying the general consensus was people being fine with the pick because of Vuc stagnating and us wanting a defensive presence at center. Obviously not everybody was down with the pick, but it wasn't like when people were freaking out at Gordon over Exum or even at the Wagner pick.

Again i think that was because it was SOOOO expected. i mean with the way the top 5 went, there wasnt a single person who would of assumed we were taking anyone but bamba

But the talk leading up to the draft, many were down on bamba, but again, with WeHam in charge, and knowing their MO, it was obvious he was gonna be the pick, so no point fighting it

[The Effect]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

Well... I was a Bridges guy. I do remember some people really liking SGA though.

I will say this though... I'd rather have Bamba right now than MPJ.

Besides the contract, why?

Porter has shown more in his limited time than bamba has in 4 years. He has shown he can be an elite scorer, even as a 3rd option on a championship caliber team, and does so with very good shooting % all around, cant imagine what he could do as a #1 option on this team. I get it, hes not much of a defender, and thats all anyone here cares about, but its not like bamba is a great defender himself. Hes a good shot blocker, but a poor defender, so really, i cant think of anything else bamba does better than MPjr

[Xatticus]

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

Well... I was a Bridges guy. I do remember some people really liking SGA though.

I will say this though... I'd rather have Bamba right now than MPJ.

Besides the contract, why?

Porter has shown more in his limited time than bamba has in 4 years. He has shown he can be an elite scorer, even as a 3rd option on a championship caliber team, and does so with very good shooting % all around, cant imagine what he could do as a #1 option on this team. I get it, hes not much of a defender, and thats all anyone here cares about, but its not like bamba is a great defender himself. Hes a good shot blocker, but a poor defender, so really, i cant think of anything else bamba does better than MPjr

What do you mean... besides the contract?

I don't want him because of the contract. He's broken. It's an injury he had before he was drafted. It's why people were scared. The rumors were that the medicals were very bad. He stayed upright long enough to get a max deal. That deal hasn't even kicked in yet and now he is unmovable. It's an albatross.

[SOUL]

Yeah, if people are out on JI which was more of a freak re-injury thing, MPJ having back troubles before he was even drafted is the biggest of red flags.

[Skybox]

Yeah, if people are out on JI which was more of a freak re-injury thing, MPJ having back troubles before he was even drafted is the biggest of red flags.

Kudos to DEN for taking a big swing on MPJ. They were already pretty good and had a later pick, so why not? That's the kind of pick that, if it pans out (like it appeared to), you're executive of the year.

If the SAME injury resurfaces immediately after signing him to a max extension, you might be an unemployed GM.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Whole different story from Isaac's injury. Isaac was a great pick, stuff happens. He still may be a great player for a long time...Porter too, I guess - but multi-level spinal surgery is no joke.

[Orl_Magic]

Lakers are hurting right now. They could use Ross and we could use there FRP lol.

[Ducklett]

Isaac was a good pick. Injuries made it a potentially bad or good pick depending on how he returns.

Bamba, in a vacuum, was the pick everyone wanted because Vuc had 3 subpar years in a row, wasn't getting to the line, wasn't shooting threes.

The biggest **** up we had was drafting Hezonja when Devin Booker wanted to be here.

Not true, many people, myself included, spent the entire offseason talking about how bad of a pick Bamba would be and how lazy and limited Bamba was, but all anyone cared about was his wingspan and "defensive potential"

Many of us hated the pick, but had accepted it as everyone knew it was a forgone conclusion that if he was on the board, he was the pick. If i remember correctly, there was quite a few people here who wanted Mikhil Bridges, some who wanted sexton and a few us wanted to take a chance on Porter jr (me). Shockingly, most people here were really down on SGA (yes i was one of those people, oops)

Many hated the pick because this stupid team decided to win games at the end of the year and not get Trae and Doncic.

[PrimeThyme]

I was a big SGA guy.

I was begging in the draft thread for us to trade up for him during draft night. If Weltman could have created a point guard in a lab that had the size and length he covets combined with offensive skill, I thought it was SGA. I know there were a few others (MagicMatic off the top of my head) who felt the same.

Just a tremendous miss on their part as SGA is shaping up to be a top 25 player while Bamba may not make it past a second contract.

[The Effect]

Lakers are hurting right now. They could use Ross and we could use there FRP lol.

Do they have a 1st rounder? I think they traded them all away for Russ and AD

I wouldnt mind THEIR 2026 unprotected 1st rounder, have a feeling that will be a top 10 pick cause lebron, AD and russ will likely all be gone while they have no 1st rounders to rebuild and their only young players are THT and malik Monk, who is on a 1 year min-contract (must be nice to be the lakers and have guys willing to take league min to play for you)

[The Effect]

I was a big SGA guy.

I was begging in the draft thread for us to trade up for him during draft night. If Weltman could have created a point guard in a lab that had the size and length he covets combined with offensive skill, I thought it was SGA. I know there were a few others (MagicMatic off the top of my head) who felt the same.

Just a tremendous miss on their part as SGA is shaping up to be a top 25 player while Bamba may not make it past a second contract.

yeah i know some people liked him, but for the most part, he wasnt very popular on this board from what i remember

But, Trade up? He went after us?

[PrimeThyme]

yeah i know some people liked him, but for the most part, he wasnt very popular on this board from what i remember

But, Trade up? He went after us?

I don't know that to be the case. He was popular around here from my memory.

Also, leading up to the draft there was heavy speculation that Charlotte was moving the 11th pick. I believe it broke during the draft that they were actively shopping it, && the Clippers were the team to trade up and draft SGA. It was before that trade and after the Bamba selection that many of us were pleading for us to move up and take him.

[The Effect]

yeah i know some people liked him, but for the most part, he wasnt very popular on this board from what i remember

But, Trade up? He went after us?

I don't know that to be the case. He was popular around here from my memory.

Also, leading up to the draft there was heavy speculation that Charlotte was moving the 11th pick. I believe it broke during the draft that they were actively shopping it, && the Clippers were the team to trade up and draft SGA. It was before that trade and after the Bamba selection that many of us were pleading for us to move up and take him.

That would be a hell of a jump to go from 35 to 11?